RIP Helen Gurley Brown, Legendary Cosmopolitan Editor

Helen Gurley Brown, who took the reins at Cosmopolitan in 1965 and revolutionized the magazine as a vehicle for women’s sexual empowerment, has died at the age of 90, reports the New York Times.

Brown wrote the book on sex, quite literally. Her touchstone advice tome “Sex and the Single Girl” was published in 1964 and remains an iconic precursor to the many cultural emblems that followed, including, perhaps most notably, Sex and the City. Brown remained editor-in-chief at Cosmopolitan until 1997 and, despite her years, continued to report to her pink corner office almost every day until her death.

A statement from Hearst emphasizes the astounding impact the editor had on the magazine, the industry, and Cosmo’s numerous faithful readers over the years:

“It would be hard to overstate the importance to Hearst of her success with Cosmopolitan, or the value of the friendship many of us enjoyed with her. Helen was one of the world’s most recognized magazine editors and book authors, and a true pioneer for women in journalism — and beyond.”